A CONTROVERSIAL application to build 550 homes near a planned new free school at Ingleby Barwick, near Stockton. has been rejected by Government minister Eric Pickles.

However the agent for the development company, Jersey-based Tiviot Way Investments branded the decision "political" and told The Northern Echo that "all options were being considered" - including a legal appeal or the submission of a revised application.

The housing development is controversial because the original plan for a new free school building was tied to permission being granted for 350 new homes on the same site.

Critics, including councillors, argued the desire for a new school building near Little Maltby Farm was being used as a "Trojan horse" to force through more house building and that it would make3 it harder for Stockton Borough Council to reject further applications in future.

Several housing applications were subsequently submitted for the area near the free school but the council's planning committee rejected the 550-home Tiviot Way scheme by 13 votes to zero, citing highway, archaeological and protected "green wedge" land concerns.

That was appealed by the developers and a three-day hearing by the Planning Inspectorate was held in November. The inspector recommended the council decision be overturned but Eric Pickles, Communities Minister, has today (Wednesday, January 21) agreed with the council and thrown out the appeal.

James Wharton, Conservative MP for Stockton South, said: "I asked the Secretary of State to look at this appeal personally because I knew that was our best chance."

The MP went on to criticise the Labour-led council for "waving through" other planning applications in Stockton South which could also have been rejected.

Labour candidate for Stockton South, Louise Baldock, also claimed some credit, arguing she had led a campaign to stop it and took part in a three-day planning inspectorate inquiry.

Colin Griffiths, agent for Tiviot Way Investments, said the developers were considering all options including a legal challenge and a new application. He said: "My first reading is that this is a political decision made in a highly marginal constituency in election year."

Eric Pickles last year overturned Stockton council’s decision to refuse planning permission for the original plan to build a new free school with 350 new homes on the same site.

That apparent contradiction in policy and the disagreement between Mr Pickles and his planning inspector led Mike Smith, Stockton Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Transport, to accuse the Government of being in "disarray" over planning policy.

Another appeal against Stockton council’s rejection of a second, separate application also to build 550 new homes near the soon-to-be-built free school will go before a public inquiry at Stockton Baptist Tabernacle on Tuesday, February 10.